Tim Povtak of the Orlando Sentinel reports: If the Orlando Magic really did think they could reach the NBA Finals this season -- as they keep saying -- they would not have traded Bo Outlaw to Phoenix last week.

For the long term, the trade was brilliant. Outlaw was overpaid at $6 million per season, and finding someone to take that contract was amazing.

With the trade, the Magic will clear enough salary-cap space in the summer of 2003 so they can have their choice among projected free agents such as Tim Duncan, Jermaine O'Neal, Jason Kidd, Alonzo Mourning and Theo Ratliff.

For the short term -- this season -- the move weakens them significantly. To suggest otherwise is deceptive.

The trade was not good for Coach Doc Rivers' desire to win now, but it will help from an ownership perspective in a different way. If the DeVos family makes the decision to sell the team -- as its growing frustration over new arena issues in Orlando suggests -- it has improved the prospect of a sale.

With Outlaw's bloated contract gone, the Magic can tell potential buyers that in 2003, there will be no fat in the payroll. The only players on the roster today who have contracts beyond 2002-2003 are Hill, McGrady and Hunter. Everyone else can be at the new owner's choosing. They can add Duncan, for example, then surround their big three with any mix-and-match cast and still win the Eastern Conference.

It would be a team that any new owner would love.